Posted 3 years ago
TracyLeigh
(2 items)
This sewing machine has been in my family as long as I remember. I've been trying to date this piece with no success.
National Sewing Machine - Manhattan | ||
| Non-Singer Sewing Machines41 of 454 |  |  |
National Sewing Machine - Manhattan | ||
| Non-Singer Sewing Machines41 of 454 | | |
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Posted 3 years ago
TracyLeigh
(2 items)
This sewing machine has been in my family as long as I remember. I've been trying to date this piece with no success.
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Hi, TracyLeigh. :-)
Beautiful.
I see you already know quite a bit, because the name on the horizontal arm is "Manhattan," but you've divined that your machine was probably made by National Sewing Machine Company. National made more of what are known as "badged" machines than any other sewing machine company of its day:
http://ismacs.net/national/from_eldredge_to_national_to_janome.html
Similarly, you've ferreted out the serial number (628643) that is normally hidden under the front slide plate, but have probably learned that there is no comprehensive database of National serial numbers. :-(
In looking at the various characteristics of your machine, it seems like it might be a VB-TT Type 5. Here is one at the defunct needlebar dot org website:
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=File:04natvbtt3506951.jpeg
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/National_Vibrating_Shuttle_Machines
The decals aren't the same, but yours has a rounded body, an inspection plate at the shoulder (the junction of the horizontal arm and the pillar), a top leaf tension assembly, a pillar screw stitch length control, and a low bobbin winder.
I found a blogger who has a VB-TT Type 5, and they found some old Eaton catalogs on archive dot org with at least one that has a drawing of a machine that looks very similar to theirs (and yours):
http://ncweekendquilter.blogspot.com/p/treadle.html
I'm simplified the first archive dot org link here to a single page view, because I think it's the pertinent one:
https://archive.org/details/eatons190500eatouoft/page/n202/mode/1up
I think the No. 3 Eatonia in the 1905 Eaton catalog looks the closest.
Then again, as that blogger pointed out, the Sears Home Queen looks very similar:
http://ismacs.net/sears/images/hq.jpg
http://ismacs.net/sears/sears.html
However, none of the Vindex models at needlebar have a top leaf tension assembly. :-(
All things considered, I think I'd go with a National Sewing Machine Company vibrating shuttle model VB-TT Type 5 badged for the Charles Williams Stores, circa 1905.
Whoops, I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I didn't tell you that you can correct the orientation of your fourth picture by editing it on your local machine, be it desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone.
The software here at Collectors Weekly Show & Tell doesn't play nicely with all makes and models of digital cameras, especially some found on tablets and smart phones.
Any old edit should do the trick, but try trimming the rectangular image to shorten the long sides a bit. Then edit your post, and replace the current image with the edited one.
Hi again, TracyLeigh. :-)
I think the only way to narrow down further the age of your machine would be to get a look at some old Charles Williams Stores catalogs.
The Smithsonian has some, but they haven't been scanned for online viewing:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/SILNMAHTL_28495
This outfit has some Charles Williams Stores catalogs, but it requires an account (that's the deal killer for me personally, but your mileage may vary):
https://www.amdigital.co.uk/primary-sources/trade-catalogues-and-the-american-home
Thank you so much for your help and sources. It is very much appreciated!
TracyLeigh, You're welcome. :-)
I'm sorry that I can't pin it down more closely.
Here is more information in a CW S&T post from about six months ago when I had occasion to help somebody who had a VB-TT Type 5 complete with the same decal set seen on the needbar dot org example (but badged Manhattan):
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/291516-manhattan-sewing-machine
As I remarked in my comments on that post, vintage sewing machine enthusiast Wayne Schmidt has a VB-TT Type 5 that he was able to approximate a date of 1914, and his has a serial number of 2,296,351, so yours is probably quite a bit older.
Here is some more history of National machines:
*snip*
National Sewing Machine Co. Est 1879 – 1957
Factory: Boston, Massachusetts 1880 -1887
Moved to: Chicago, Illinois
Moved to State Street, Belvidere, Illinois by 1886
Office 290 Broadway New York 1923
Presidents: Barnabas Eldredge 1890 - 1911, David Patton 1911 - 1925,Harry D. Pierce 1925 - 1928, Walter E. Dewrwent 1928, Raymond F. List 1928 - 1939+
Machines Made:
Labelled Machines for Montgomery Wards & Co., Sears Roebuck & Co.,
Eldredge B 1888 - 1897
Belvidere 1893
Model Nos 3 & 5 1894
The Eldredge (Vindex B)1904 - 1908
The Eldredge D 1908
Eldredge Two Spool 1916 1920
Seamstress 1893
Grand 1893
Imperial Seamstress
Improved Eldredge B 1904
National Two spool 1923
Paveway 1908 1937
Videx Special
Expert B.T. 1940
B. Eldredge Automatic - Chain Stitch 1908
Reversew REX 1939
Rotary A, B 1908 1939, C, D 1939.
Improved Eldredge Rotary B 1937 - 1939
Damascus Rotary (Montgomery Ward) 1937
Brunswick 1937 (Montgomery Ward)
Paveway Regent 1937
Reversed B, D. 1939
Stitchwell/Busy Bee/Famous/Juvenile/Wee/ Willamette Junior/ Little Lady/Lavelle/Duquesne/ Little Hustler/Ruth - Toy
Eldredgette 1939 - 1940+ - Toy
The American Girl 1933 - 1946 Toy available in red/black/green/cream/blue AKA Young's (Green)
Production: 1200 machines per day 1908/1917
150,000 p.a. 1923
*snip*
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/american%20sewing%20machine%20manufacturers.htm
It doesn't specifically mention the VB-TT machines, but it does mention Model Nos. 3 and 5. I wonder if those could be the VB-TT Type 3 and VB-TT Type 5. It gives a date of 1894 for them.
It also mentions The Eldredge (Vindex B) with a date of 1904-1908, but needlebar dot org doesn't show any of the Eldredge machines with a top leaf tension assembly.
Hi again, TracyLeigh. :-)
I'm revising some of my vintage sewing machine help here at Collectors Weekly Show & Tell and I am planning to use copies of some of your pictures of this particular sewing machine. This is a non-profit effort.
If you don't want me to do that, just tell me here on this post in a comment and I'll remove any copies of your pictures from my post(s).
Cheers,
keramikos
I am so terribly sorry....I just saw your message. You are more than welcome to use the photos.
Regards, Tracy
TracyLeigh, No need for any apology. :-)
Thank you for being gracious about my use of your photograph:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/308614-help-for-vintage-badged-sewing-machines
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words, especially when one is trying to help somebody who isn't all that familiar with the subject matter at hand.
Terms like sewing machine arm, slide plate, etc., aren't always intuitive to vintage sewing machine newbies.
So thank you again. :-)